Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook

Written by Christina Henry

Narrated by Samuel Roukin

The author of Alice takes readers through a dark tale of Peter Pan, who turns his best friend into his nemesis, Captain Hook. On an island lives a boy called Peter and his band of merry lost boys, young forever. That is, unless they get sick or killed by pirates or eaten by crocodiles or unless-inexplicably-they grow old. For some of them do grow old, and nobody knows why. One of these boys is called Jamie, and he was the first boy that Peter ever brought to the island. Jamie's lived there for longer than he can remember, and it's not all fun and games. Peter thinks the boys are replaceable, that if one dies or grows up, he can swap in another from the Other Place, the place where he collects new playmates. Jamie looks out for the boys and takes care of them. He does everything Peter does not. Jamie tries to keep them alive because, to him, they matter. When Peter steals a boy who is too young, Jamie takes the boy under his wing. But Peter won't have that, for nobody will ever take Jamie from him. Ever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781501950018

Christina Henry

Christina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author whose works include Horseman, Near the Bone, The Ghost Tree, Looking Glass, The Girl in Red, The Mermaid, Lost Boy, Alice, and Red Queen. She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/​or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son and tweets @C_Henry_Author.

Reviews for Lost Boy

[griffin_reads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For me, Lost Boy was a great combination of the classic story of Peter Pan, combined with just enough new details to freshen up the story. It is not simply told from Jamie's (Captain Hook's) perspective; it is told through the lens of a biased narrator who, having learned how to survive on the island, is now learning what it means to be a human and to grow up. I loved this story, and Peter Pan and variations of the story tend to be some of my favorites.

[arsonistic duck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I’m not a huge fan of fantasy, Lost Boy was such a well written book that had a steady and intriguing pace. Kudos to the author.

[David Richter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you’re a fan of any Peter Pan stories I highly recommend this book.

[Damien Smith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’m no fan (lost)boy but every since I read Gaiman’s Snow Glass Apples, I’m all for a dark 180 on classic stories. And this retelling was simply brilliant - brutal, thorough, savage in its whimsy, violent, well paced and just long enough. Superbly performed, as well!

[Mike Skeens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! Definitely not the kid's version of Peter Pan I was familiar with. It's an excellent twist between Peter Pan & Lord of the Flies.

[Rodrigo Sanchez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved the performance. Lots of great variation and definitely elevated the book. The writing is okay with the twists being pretty obvious from the start. Over all 3.5 but a performance of 5.

[Airei · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Addictive, smart, and original! A fantastic take on a classic tale with an origin Captain Hook story unlike any other! It is filled with heart wrenching and truly human moments, and a great example of how monsters aren't always obvious, but are hidden and manipulative. A gripping read by Samuel Roukin.

[Seth Richards · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've always loved the story of Peter Pan, and this made for an excellent alternate take on it that built from the preexisting material, even as it explored another viewpoint. The origin for Captain Hook given here explains nearly every aspect of who he is better than Barrie did as well. Samuel Roukin also made the perfect narrator for this work.

[Silvia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well read, well written, and it sticks to the themes of the original Peter Pan fairly closely. I very much enjoyed it.

[Simone Cherie Price · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Marvelous! Thoughtful, smart, and engaging. I only wish I hadn’t devoured it so quickly.

[Austin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVED this book. I’m honestly not super familiar with the story of Peter Pan, but always loved the theory that Hook was the good guy, trying to save the lost boys. This book tells that story. When I wasn’t reading this, I was thinking about it, and wanted to get back to reading it.

[Kristyan Frogley Williams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really well written and intriguing. Great story line.
Unapologetically violent. That’s the only aspect that was tough for me.

[booksandliquids · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

For years, my headcanon has been that Peter Pan is a fairy: Not necessarily evil, but indifferent and without understanding for humans. Which means this book is right up my alley. I like the idea and the execution, it was entertaining to read and it speaks to everyone who has ever been gaslighted by a narcissist.

Unfortunately, it ignored a lot of established backstory of Captain Hook and facts about Peter Pan, Neverland, etc. I would not mind ignoring a few things, but it felt too much to me, like the author did not really care about the source material. Maybe this story would have worked better on its own, not as a retelling. Plus, there is an unneccesary romance that just does not fit into the story at all.

[hskey-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely floored, a phenomenal book. I tend to really enjoy Peter Pan stories, moreso as I get older and understand growing up a bit more. This may be my favorite iteration to date; it's demented, horrific and utterly thrilling. I couldn't put it down, I finished it in only a few sittings which is quite rare for me. Christina Henry is a terrific author, I can't wait to read her other books. All the Peter Pan lore is here, but it's such a fresh take and makes total sense. The dread is evident on every page and you can't help but hope this will have a happy ending and it has anything but. Sally and Jamie's relationship was genuinely touching and Peter's bloodlust and selfishness isn't all that far off from the original character so it matched wonderfully.

[jayeless-698797 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lost Boy provides us with an origin story for Captain Hook, one exceedingly grim and full of carnage but also one with a lot of heart and soul behind it. In this book, Peter is a cavalier and self-obsessed boy, using his incredible charisma to convince young boys to join him in the Other Place so he can have them for playmates forever and ever… at least unless they die prematurely, in which case no matter, he can always go and get some more. Jamie, the protagonist, tries his best to protect the other boys and becomes increasingly disillusioned with Peter's reign of chaos.

It is a good book. I felt, personally, that the first part of it dragged on too long: not content with showing us one or two or three awful things Peter did to cause suffering among the boys, Henry shows Peter doing tons of such things. I felt like the first half (or more) of the book was a bit of a slog as a result: I didn't particularly enjoy reading about three-year-old Charlie crying and being threatened and feeling terrified and I was so impatient to get to the part of the book where things start coming unstuck for Peter. That part did come, and I was rewarded for my persistence, but it still felt a bit unsatisfying that a book of less than 300 pages could drag.

Pacing issues aside though, if you like dark retellings and you're suspicious of everything in Peter Pan, this is a good read. (Jun 2019)

[karenvg3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My thoughts about sweet little Peter Pan have been shattered. I loved this story, but wow what a different take on a beloved classic. Henry did an amazing job with sucking me in and enjoying her world of Neverland and the lost boys. 4 ☠️ ☠️ ☠️ ☠️

[dgrachel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a quick read, a prequel to Peter Pan, if you will - the origin story for Captain Hook. It was well written and Peter, in this version, is the true villain. If you’ve seen the Peter Pan episodes of Once Upon a Time, you’ll have some inkling of the darkness of this character. The story is violent and sad. Don’t come looking for a HEA. You won’t find it here, but I defy anyone to read this without rooting for Jamie.

[liscarey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We all know the delightful story of Peter Pan, and we all know of his arch-enemy, the evil pirate Captain Hook.

This is Hook's story, and his version is a little different than Peter's.

He was the very first Lost Boy Peter brought to the magical island, his first friend, and he promised Jamie, as Hook was called them, life forever young, with no rules, endless play.

As Peter brought in more Lost Boys, though, things started to change. It took a very long time before Jamie started to recognize those changes, and what they meant.

Jamie/Hook is no saint, but this isn't the black-hearted villain Peter describes, either. And he has some very real grievances.

Jamie becomes the one who takes care of the younger boys, while Peter pursues his own version of fun with whoever can keep up.

Peter is jealous of the increasing attachment of the other boys to Jamie that results from that.

And Jamie finds that, after more than a hundred seasons on the island, changes are happening to him, and they include him now being taller than Peter, not shorter. Along with the physical changes, his ideas about what's wrong with how Peter treats himself and the other boys are becoming stronger and clearer.

This is a really interesting portrait of a boy with no adult guidance at all trying to grow up. It's very absorbing and satisfying.

Recommended.

I bought this audiobook.

[librarianryan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There have been a few books that propose to tell you how Captain Hook and Peter Pan came to be. This by far is the bloodiest. Jamie was the first Lost Boy. He was the best friend of Peter Pan. The first boy on the island to never grow up. But over time he did grow up. Peter did not. Peter will always be the school yard bully that you worry kills neighborhood cats when no one is looking. He will do anything for his enjoyment, and only keen eyes can see that Peter does not play at the games he invents, but uses them for his own purpose. Playing games day in and day out only works for one boy. To others, playing deadly games loses its shine when you spend your time burying kids eaten by crocodiles, or tore in half by cannon shot. The island is magic, but not all magic is good, sometimes magic is a curse. And sometimes the villain is the hero of the story. It’s all about perspective, and this title will give any reader a new perspective on Peter Pan. #beatthebacklist#mountTBR#LostboyBuddyRead

[titania86_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

You may think you know the true story of Peter Pan, but you must remember that above all, he lies. Peter Pan, the eternally young boy, didn't always have lost boys to play with. Jamie is Peter's favorite lost boy and the very first that he spirits away from the Other Place. As time goes on, Peter lures more and more boys to Neverland with promises of no rules, plentiful food, and fun. The reality isn't as nice with monsters lurking in the dark, lethal pirates, and disease. Jamie starts to realize the truth about Peter Pan after years of blindly following him. Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook is a reimagining of the Peter Pan tale with a harsh edge of reality. Peter Pan is the funloving eternally young boy, but he also has the negative aspects of a child as well. He lies to garner support and cover his horrible actions, not really caring who he hurts. He embodies the callousn and selfish nature of children who simply can't understand another's experience. For instance, lost boys die occasionally and Peter simply goes to the Other Place to get another without a second thought. This is one of a great many examples and it feels accurate on a bigger scale. The island itself is full of dangers. Creatures called the many eyed keep expanding their territory and eat children they encounter. Crocodiles or mermaids or pirates can lead to a swift death. Even disease can cause death. Multiple children have died from infection or some sort of contagion with no medical supplies or treatment available. Neverland is a lot less idyllic here. Jamie, the very first lost boy, is a pillar of his community, reasonable, sensitive, and loyal. For years, he has seen others come and go. He knows Peter's moods, rules, and manipulations. Through it all, he's the one who takes care of the lost boys, whether it's cheering them up, tending their wounds, stopping fights, teaching them how to survive, and burying their bodies if they don't. Magically lengthy youth doesn't mean immortality for all. Peter is too busy having fun to do any of this and doesn't really care what happens to them. At first, Jamie admires Peter and feels special to be chosen. Over time, he becomes disillusioned and realizes how monstrous Peter can be. I felt Jamie's frustration at Peter's selfish behavior and disregard for consequences, especially regarding a new lost boy who just wanted to bully others and the boy he took too young to take care of himself. The inevitable ending is tragic and went a different way than I expected.Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook is a takes a dark fantasy version of Peter Pan. I had a couple problems with it. The only girl in the novel dies to give Jamie further angst. If this was supposed to be a horror reimagining, I expected a little more darkness and blood. I also didn't really like the many eyed creatures and found that it didn't really mesh with the rest of Neverland. Other than that, this is a decent retelling with some fun twists and turns.

[fred_mouse · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

***note: all the spoilers*****content note: abuse, murder**I adored Henry's Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass inspired novels, and was very excited to discover this book. Sadly, I wasn't grabbed by this one they way I was the first two. There are many good aspects of the story, but in the end it comes down to a single theme: this is the story of an abusive, gas-lighting relationship based on a lie. Peter Pan is the archetypical abuser; Jamie, who grows up to be Hook, adores him, does everything he wants, until Pan makes a mistake, and brings another person to the island that Jamie feels the need to protect. It is a nasty, destructive, story, with the environment of the island being steadily destroyed along with Jamie's love for and faith in Peter. It is Lord of the Flies, but through the eyes of someone who loves those he is with, and who watches them die, and die and die. Peter's glee in destroying everyone that Jamie comes to love is soul-destroying, both for the reader, and for Jamie. Oh, and the entire two female characters are also horribly murdered.

[ouroborosangel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A plethora of books on the market now retell old fairytales. Skip all of these – read Lost Boy by Christina Henry instead!

Lost Boy is Jamie’s story. Jamie is the first boy that Peter Pan brought to his island. He is also the defacto father-figure for the other boys, but only because he is the “oldest” and realizes that they still need to eat and, occasionally, bathe. And given that their lives consist of roughhousing, battle simulations, fighting off the Many-Eyed, and ransacking the pirates’ camp, he is also the closest thing to a doctor the boys have.

Everything changes when Peter brings back a boy who is younger than usual. Charlie is only five years old, and takes much of Jamie’s time and attention. Much of the book deals with Peter’s jealousy over Charlie and Jamie’s relationship and the schemes of Peter to separate Jamie from the young boy.

The addition of Nip and Sal bring further complications, of which you will need to read yourself.

And then after many crying jags (mine) – Captain Hook.

Suffice it to say, I will never look at Peter Pan the same again. I am now and forever a Captain Hook fan.

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. (A huge thank you to Berkley Publishing Group!)

Rating: 95/100

Buy this book July 4th!

[amanda4242_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The idea of a dark version of Peter Pan struck me as a bit pointless--it's already a story about a boy who steals children--but I was in the mood for something new so I decided to give it a chance.Despite my initial reservations, I was quickly sucked into the story of how Jamie, the first and favorite Lost Boy, became Captain James Hook. It starts off a little slow, but the tension soon mounts as it becomes clear that Peter's island isn't a paradise and his idea of fun usually has a body count. Received via First to Read.

[carolesrandomlife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a lot of fun. I am not really someone who reads a lot of fairy tale retellings but the idea of this one really appealed to me. I really don't know a whole lot about the original Peter Pan story besides what I know from Disney which was probably one of the things that made me want to pick this book up. It did start out a bit slow for me and I was able to set it aside but once I really got going, I didn't want to put it down. This was really a great read.I have a weakness for villains but Jamie really doesn't feel like a villain in this story. I really enjoyed seeing Peter Pan, the island, and the other boys from Jamie's point of view. Jamie was the first boy that Peter brought to the island and he is the favorite. He takes care of the others and keeps things in line. For a boy that will never grow up he is really very mature.Peter wasn't the lovable innocent child that I know from the Disney movie. Not at all. Peter was cunning and thought only of himself. He brings boys to the island so that he will forever have playmates and he wants them all to love him. That doesn't mean that he cares about them all that much because if they die or get hurt he can just go and get more boys. Peter wants things the way that he wants them and he has all of the power on the island so the boys follow his lead.The story had a lot of exciting moments. I was happy to see the things that I remember from my limited knowledge of Peter Pan including the pirates, the tree, and mermaids. I was also thrilled to see a few surprises along the way. This was definitely not a Disney movie and some of the scenes were actually quite violent. There were plenty of characters to like and a few to hate. Once the book hit the mid-point the action really didn't let up until the final page.I would recommend this book to others. I thought it was a really well done story with great characters. This is the first book by Christina Henry that I have read but I hope to read more in the future.I received an advance reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via First to Read.

[krau0098 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I got this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. I have been a big fan of Christina Henry's other books (The Adventure of Alice and her Black Wings series). However this book missed the mark for me. It's not poorly written or anything, it's just really boring and predictable. I think part of my issue is that I was expecting something as darkly creative and lush as Brom’s The Child Thief and this book is just so much less than that.I kept expecting the story to gain more plot and/or depth and it never really did. It just plods along and ends exactly as you expect it to. The Many Eyed Ones seemed interesting at first and I was excited for our first encounter with them; but even that feel flat for me once it was revealed what they were...it just wasn't that big of a mystery.Basically the big reveal is that Peter Pan is a cruel forever child, which seems anti-climatic if you think about it. I mean imagine if you were stuck between the ages of 7 to 15 forever; there’s a lot of cruelty and thoughtlessness that happens in those years. Imagine if you are never held accountable for your actions or learn about consequences. I am not saying all kids are cruel, but if you were living in that sort of environment there would be no reason to not be selfish and immature. The whole story seems like...well duh.Unfortunately there was nothing in the story here that really hooked me and drew me in. It was boring from beginning to end and I almost stopped reading it quite a few times. This is a book I truly could have skipped. I suppose if you worship Peter Pan as a symbol of hope and innocence then this book might floor you, but I have always thought Peter Pan was creepy and cruel so this book was nothing new for me.Overall this is one I would skip. If you are looking for a dark expansion on the Peter Pan mythos that is interesting and builds an amazing dark world around the Peter Pan story I would recommend checking out Brom's book The Child Thief. That is an amazing book about a darker look at the Peter Pan mythology and history.

[texicanwife_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have always been enamored with those favorite children's stories of the past. Peter Pan was always a favorite of mine! I mean, who wouldn't want to stay a child forever, and never have any cares?But, in this telling of the tale, Henry writes the "lost boy" tale of Captain Hook, and how he became Peter's nemesis.Wonderfully written! Engaging. Spell-binding. I didn't want to put the book down!And for once, you might find yourself rooting for Hook, rather than Pan!Thoroughly enjoyable with surprise twists and turns on every page.I give this book five stars,a BIG thumbs up,and my recommendation for a fun read!You can pre-order the book on Amazon.com, the paperback is $9.61 plus shipping and handling, or the Kindle version is $11.99. Be sure to add this to your summer reading fun!****DISCLAIMER: This book was provided by Amazon Vine in exchange for a fair and impartial review. The book reviewed was a pre-print copy and may not reflect the final printing. All opinions above are solely those of this reviewer and may not reflect the opinion of other reviewers.